Antoine Brooks: A junior nickel back, Brooks is one of five players with starting experience returning for the Terrapins this season. He was an effective defender a year ago, earning honorable mention all-Big Ten honors while leading Maryland with 9.5 tackles for a loss. He also contributed 77 tackles and two interceptions, both ranking second on the team.

Ty Johnson: Running back is a depth-filled position for the Terrapins and teaming with Lorenzo Harrison in the backfield, Johnson is expected to blend pass-catching and return capabilities with his skill running the football. The 5-foot-10, 208-pound senior ranked fifth in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards last season with 1,592 yards.

Darnell Savage Jr.: An active defender from the free safety position, Savage earned all-Big Ten honorable mention last season after leading the Terrapins with three interceptions and eight pass break ups. He’ll be looking to shore up a defense which surrendered a league-high 23 touchdown passes a year ago while allowing 419 yards per game.

On the rise

Jesse Anibonam: The senior defensive end is no stranger to the Maryland lineup, but a broken foot in the Terrapins’ season opener in 2017 ended his season before it began. The 6-3, 259-pounder led Maryland with 14 tackles for a loss and nine sacks in 2016.

Newbie

Kasim Hill: A 6-2, 232-pound freshman, Hill saw action in the second half of a season-opening win over Texas in 2017 after starter Tyrell Pigrome suffered a knee injury, but suffered his own season-ending injury a week later in a win over Towson State. He’s a pro-style fit to the pro-style look new offensive coordinator Matt Canada is implementing this season.

The big number

79: The Terrapins have dedicated their work this season to the player Jordan McNair, an offensive lineman who wore jersey number 79 who died in June after collapsing during a team workout.

Coach speak

“I think we have a really good football team. I really do. We have a good mix of veteran leadership, guys with experience that we’re counting on that have played a lot for us and done some really good things, as well as I feel we have recruited really well. We have some really good young talent who will help us on the field.’’ – D.J. Durkin, Maryland coach

2018 schedule

Sept. 1 – vs. Texas at Landover, Maryland

Sept. 8 – at Bowling Green

Sept. 15 – Temple

Sept. 22 – Minnesota

Oct. 6 – at Michigan*

Oct. 13 – Rutgers*

Oct. 20 – at Iowa

Oct. 27 – Illinois

Nov. 3 – Michigan State*

Nov. 10 – at Indiana*

Nov. 17 – Ohio State*

Nov. 24 – at Penn State*

—* East Division game

Numerology

Where Maryland ranked in the Big Ten in 2017:

Scoring offense: 18.3 (12th)

Rushing offense: 141 (Ninth)

Passing offense: 155 (12th)

Totals offense: 296 (11th)

Scoring defense: 38.8 (14th)

Rushing defense: 205 (10th)

Passing defense: 220 (10th)

Total defense: 425 (12th)

Trends

The Terrapins’ record over the last five years:

2013: 7-6

2014: 7-6

2015: 3-9

2016: 6-7

2017: 4-8

Eye on Iowa

All-time series

Iowa 1, Maryland 1

Record in the only two games vs. the Hawkeyes:

2014: Maryland 38, Iowa 31

2015: Iowa 31, Maryland 15

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